Best vitamins to boost the immune system
In this post I’m going to talk about the best vitamins to boost the immune system, if you are interested in boosting your body’s defense mechanism against germs and sickness then this post will show you the key areas to focus on.
Your immune system
Your immune system is a very complex network comprising cells and proteins, its function is to take action and defend your body against any infection, your immune system knows when it has beaten a particular germ (microbe) so that should that germ reappear it can be destroyed again.
Should something abnormal happen to your immune system it could lead to allergic disease, autoimmune disorder, or immune deficiency.
Other defense mechanisms
Your body doesn’t just depend on your immune system to defend itself against germs, it has other means of defense such as;
- Lungs-your lungs have small hairs (cilia) that push mucus build-up upwards so that you can cough it up.
- Skin- your skin acts as a waterproof shield it secretes oil that kills bacteria.
- Digestive tract- your digestive tract is the mucous lining in your stomach, it contains antibodies and acid that can kill most microbes.
- Other body defenses- include bodily fluids such as saliva, oil, and tears, all have an antibacterial enzyme, the eye works to keep infection down when you go to the toilet you excrete toxins.
How can you boost the immune system?
Your immune system is by definition pretty strong at looking after you but there are times when strong germs get the better of it and you may need to get help from your doctor usually prescribed medication to help your body to recover.
It is possible to boost your immune system naturally if you focus on my top five tips to boost your immune system you give your body the best chance to be as strong as possible in defending itself against foreign invaders. The majority of these steps won’t cost you any money however I do recommend that you also take a look at the best vitamins to boost the immune system.
Top 5 tips to boost the immune system
- Eat a balanced diet. I believe in healthy eating, it is well-documented that healthy food can boost your immune system, and it’s not rocket science to stick to a food plan consisting of a mixture of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and lean protein. Mix in foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, for example, eggs, salmon, or avocados, not only will these kinds of foods help your immune system but as part of a healthy lifestyle, they will maintain a healthy weight.
- Make exercise a priority. I’m sure that you know how good exercise is not only for your immune system but also for your mental health, prioritize exercise in your weekly schedule, I’m talking moderate intensity exercise like a brisk walk outside in the fresh air or using an exercise machine like a treadmill or exercise bike indoors.
- Take in enough water. Staying hydrated is a very important part of protecting your immune system, not only that but drinking enough water will help your digestion. How much water should you drink? experts will tell you to drink about two liters per day, however, my advice is to find out what amount of water your body needs by drinking when you feel thirsty, don’t drink if you don’t feel the need, do drink following exercise or during high temperatures to replace lost fluid.
- Take immune-boosting vitamins- I’m somewhat skeptical about the claims of some supplement manufacturers however I can tell you that vitamins B6, C & E are trusted because they are known to boost your immune system. That’s not to say that some foods that you eat in a well-balanced diet don’t contain a lot of these vitamins but other factors like a poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol, inadequate sleep, dehydration, and prescription antibiotics can lower your immune system.
- Adequate sleep- I know that a lot of people struggle to get adequate sleep, and not enough sleep has a definite effect on your immune system, most adults need about 6-8 hours of sleep.
What are the best vitamins to boost the immune system?
You may have been following and implementing all the steps outlined above to keep your immune system as strong as possible, however, even with the best immune boosting strategies our bodies can fall prey to some viruses. Take for example the Coronavirus or Covid 19, look what it has done to some healthy people who had a strong immune system.
I know that Covid 19 is probably a once-in-a-lifetime virus that our bodies cannot cope with but it does underline the point about boosting your immune system as best you can. I recommend that you take a look at these three vitamins that registered dietitians say are best to boost your immune system:
1. Super Immune Quickstart
Super Immune QuickStart gives you a quick burst of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and immune support to start your day off right. It’s like getting a multivitamin, protein powder, and greens drink — all rolled into one.
QuickStart gives you a whopping 22 different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. From vitamin A to zinc.
Recommend example:
Super Immune Quickstart
2. Immune Complex
Immune Complex provides vitamins that are especially important to a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for people, supporting many aspects of the immune system in integral ways. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that nourishes the immune system, especially in older people. Vitamin B6 is required for a healthy immune system. Zinc plays an essential role in the immune system, as an antioxidant, and as a part of many cellular processes. Glutamine is an essential amino acid that is used in large amounts by the immune system. All these key nutrients support the immune system in different, beneficial ways.
Recommend example:
Immune Complex
3. Probiotics
I believe that probiotics are an essential part of boosting the immune system because more studies have shown that an imbalance of the bacteria within the digestive system was linked to poor overall health and disease. Probiotics are a great way to promote a healthy balance in gut bacteria they are also linked to a range of health benefits for example digestive health, weight loss, and immune function.
Recommend example of probiotics
Probiotic 40-Billion
PrescriptBiotics™ is a powerful microflora soil based that can have positive changes in the gut in several ways, for example boosting energy, and metabolism, and supporting brain function, PrescriptBiotics™ may provide better immune health leading to better health when the winter flu season is upon us.
4. Immune Support
The antioxidants in VitaPost Immune Support are supplied by many different ingredients. Starting with vitamins C & E, through green tea and pine bark, to grape seed extract and olive leaf – these natural sources of beneficial antioxidants help fight free radicals and oxidation
Recommend example:
Immune Support
Do vitamins have side effects?
Some vitamins and supplements could have side effects, a lot depending on your metabolism and general overall health especially if they are taken pre-surgery or with other medications, vitamins and supplements may cause issues if you have certain health conditions.
Supplements to avoid in particular is Vitamin E, studies on Vitamin E are thin on the ground so I’m not sure if it is of any health benefit.
Hydration
Be mindful of proper hydration to boost your immune system, and drink as much water as you feel like drinking, it’s never too little water that helps to keep your immune cells healthy, and try to avoid too much coffee.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed my post on the best vitamins to boost the immune system, it’s clear that the food that we eat can give us an ample supply of vitamins to boost the immune system, however outside influences can affect our immune system and we may need vitamins to boost the immune system back up again.
The best vitamins to boost the immune system are Vitamins D3 and K2, and Vitamin C d I believe that a good probiotic can have a major impact on the health of the immune system, also read this post.
Related Articles:
How to remove plaque from arteries?
How to boost the immune system with supplements?
What supplements boost the immune system?
Supplements that boost the immune system
Pingback: What is the best probiotic for women OPTIBAC